Will run on a Tuesday morning from 11 am for about an hour. The season of Lent is an opportunity for us to be with our Lord in the wilderness and /or to journey with the people of Israel during their forty-year sojourn. The study group would hope to assist us in our prayer, penance and reflection.
Our thanks to Francis for all the work and effort he put into preparing his presentation on rallying 10,000 miles across the world in 10 days in back in 1968! Sharing something of his life experience with other parishioners certainly generated both fascination and interest, affording the opportunity for people to get to know one another more fully.
Our thanks to all those of you who contribute to the parish through the ‘Gift Aid Scheme’ by whatever means. As you may be aware, for every declare £1.00 contributed by a tax-payer to the parish as part of a Registered Charity, generates a further 25 pence, so your £4.00 becomes £5.00 at no extra cost to you. As we approach a new tax year, and if you are a tax-payer contributing to the parish and are not in the gift aid scheme, might we encourage you to join it, please? Many thanks.
Begins on Wednesday, 18th February, so we should be thinking and praying about what to do during this penitential season, both for our own conversion, to conform ourselves more readily to the person of Christ Jesus, but also for the conversion of the world. Perhaps rather than giving things up we should take things on! Should we be giving things up for Lent, we should not make our abstinence someone else’s penance! This means that if giving something up is going to make us miserable and unbearable for others, then we should do something else. Of course, in our modern era, we might give up 'social media', computer gaming or 'window shopping' on the internet and give that time to the Lord in prayer or the corporeal works of mercy! If we are giving things up, food, drink, the commercial coffee, the bought sandwich,(which could be made at home) the money saved should be given to charity, and thereby become 'a more pleasing offering to the Lord'. Remember, our Lenten self-denial is not about losing weight or improving our lung or liver function, but it is about uniting ourselves with the Passion of our Lord and making an effort to conform ourselves more fully to His person. Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence, i.e. no meat or indulgent food, simply enough for the day. During Lent there will be Stations of the Cross on Friday evening at 7.00 pm . The Lent CAFOD family fast day is on February 27th.
If you would like to contribute to the food bank, the Food Bank Box is by the side door of the Church and is for contributions of appropriate products as listed, which are gratefully received. The box is emptied regularly and the products are delivered to the local Food Bank Depot, where they are labelled and St Josephs Parish is acknowledged. Should you wish to help with the Food Bank a few more people are needed to assist occasionally with the weekly collection when the regular collectors are away. Please see our own parish website under the heading ‘Churches Together in Dorking at: https://www.sjcc.org.uk/churches-together-dorking Volunteers would need to have their own transport to get the products to the actual food bank depot. Please let Maria know if you’re willing to help. For further details about the foodbank, please see their website at: Dorking Area Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
The Pastoral Plan – The Word Who is Life (From Fr. Chris Bergin):- “Bishop Richard’s appointment as the next Archbishop of Westminster means there are some immediate consequences for us regarding the implementation of the Pastoral Plan in the Epsom Deanery. Whilst some things, by Church Law, are put on hold until a new Bishop arrives – particularly any decision to combine the existing nine parishes into one new parish – other key elements of the Plan remain as important for us as ever; prayer, formation and mission continue to be the priorities that shape our pastoral life. Whilst the parishioner meetings around the nine parishes will not now go ahead as planned (as a significant factor in the planning for these – particularly the timetable – was the proposed changes to structure), the Parish Leadership Team will be working on proposals to enable us to continue our reflections on mission, to celebrate and develop co-operation between our parish communities, and continue to invite all parishioners to get involved. You’ll be able to hear more about this in the next Deanery newsletter which will be available next weekend, 17th/18th January.” Additionally, there's a piece on the Diocesan website about what happens (and doesn't happen) during sede vacante which may be of help: Sede Vacante: Next steps for the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton | News
From SPUC:-The Bill has now passed to the House of Lords for further debate and scrutiny. It is entirely in the Lords’ power to substantially amend and even to reject the Bill. The Bill is now at the Committee stage and will be discussed in the Lords Chamber on the following Fridays: 14 November 21 November 5 December 12 December 9 January 2026 16 January 23 January 30 January 6 February 27 February 13 March 20 March 27 March 24 April Please send letters to Peer asking them to oppose the Bill.” Please use the link:- Fight the Leadbeater bill - SPUC
If you have a Red Box (Mill Hill Missionaries) in your home which is not emptied by the parish collectors or if you would like a Red Box in your home to help the APF’s missionary work, please contact Louis McCulloch on 01306 899001 or louis.mcculloch1@gmail.com .
Catholics seeking guidance: In light of recent coverage, some references to help and guide: Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2277 Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText The Code of Canon Law: Code 227 Code of Canon Law - Book II - The People of God - Part I. (Cann. 208-329) The Code of Canon Law: Code 915 Code of Canon Law - Book IV - Function of the Church Liber (Cann. 879-958) followed by the commentary from the Pontifical Council for Legislative Text (24/06/2000) Declaration of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts which clearly outlines the responsibility of priests towards the People of God entrusted to their care.
Parish Plan: Following your generous response to our request for volunteers, it is now possible to put a little more detail on our parish plan. Currently the Core Team consists of Fr. Ian, Philip Cook (Chair), Colin & Ricki Hughes, Peter Briscoe, Keith Sargent, Rob Potter and Kathia Thornton. The aim is to have each member of the Core Team representing and liaising with the leaders of the various ministries within the parish. A key part of the Core Team’s role is to listen to those people actively engaged in ministry and to help bring ideas and thoughts to fruition, encouraging new ventures where opportunities exist. There is already a small team planning a relaunch of the Children’s Liturgy and a suitable candidate has been found to take on the position of Parish Secretary although it will take a little longer to confirm contractual details with the Diocese. We are especially grateful to a number people who have come forward offering to help with Health and Safety matters which take up an increasing amount of time. If you have any questions or suggestions, we would very much like to hear from you.